Pasted on sweaters, mugs, and pencils was that phrase: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. I never thought deeply about those words until I grew up and started learning about all the social injustices in the world, mainly towards African Americans, women, and the LGBT community. Before the Civil War, African Americans had no rights, to say they were treated unfairly would be an understatement. During Reconstruction, presidents attempted to abolish slavery, but sharecropping, black codes, and voter restrictions essentially nullified all laws passed. It was post-reconstruction